4 replies to this topic

[AeusDeif]

The title refers to a game that no one wants to play, which PGI now seems to understand. World of Tanks style navigation works for their semi-casual 3rd person view game. MWO is a different beast. I don't know of any vehicle warfare game this nuanced.

This post is for constructive ideas about the changes to the UI/minimap. In the town hall (https://youtu.be/LB3HM0857C4?t=34m22s) and this announcement (https://mwomercs.com...ng-new-mini-map) I see 3 goals:

• 1. make room in the UI for new command wheel alerts.
  
• 2. reduce server load from enemy orientation info.
  
• 3. give infotech a greater role.

For #1, The attempt at making room removed a crucial navigational tool and congested the minimap. Originally players pressed a key to see the whole map in detail. The minimap was a smaller section in detail. The detail made it easy to plan routes around enemies and terrain. It was something PGI did right and should be proudly retained.

PGI has now stated it will restore the old style minimap with orientation, but 25% zoomed out and a toggle-able full map in the minimap. That -might- be useful if it rotates with the player so players can turn and see themselves face a notification. However, more map in a smaller space effects the readability of things like seismic.

So how do we address goal 1 for new and old players, without congesting things like the minimap? I see 3 options.

• 1A. Increase the size of the minimap in the UI by 25%.
  
• 1B. Instead of relying so much on minimap, make room in the UI for better HUD/compass indicators.
  
• 1C. Create a second 'special equipment' minimap. details:
  
  Spoiler

  - function: During alerts, a small full-map pops up to show alert location and enemy blips. If the player has infotech equipment it may show special default views like seismic data (rotating sonar map) or BAP data (blips/icons at a longer range than minimap). Otherwise area is clear, similar to having no enemy targeted.
  - placement: Top left, moving the lance display to bottom left corner. Or bottom left between damage diagram and speedo, for easy map comparison. Or top center, moving timer/kills under consumables.
  - The 2nd minimap should never show a graphically rotating map. The default alert popup should cover other data views unless turned off by player.
  - May also contain passive radar data, closeup of tag/narc'd enemy, UAV data view, perhaps a rear view for 360 target retention, or an always-on full map if command console is equipped. All as toggle-able special equipment views.

For #2, consider at least showing the orientation of a targeted enemy. The new icons are a good step, but the symbols are indistinct in a small UI space. I recommend shapes, for example ○/△/◇/✧ (L/M/H/A). 'Combination' symbols for multiple mechs seem unnecessary when detailed minimap is restored.

New commander orders should also be simple and recognizable symbols or shapes. The ones in place seem a little obscure.

For #3, a clear way to make infotech important is to increase the viability of weapons which rely on it. LRM's require constant lock, which makes lrm platforms easy targets or passive observers. Lore aside, LRM's need to be closer to fire-and-forget to be as flexible as other weapons. To prevent this from making them OP, their speed could be slowed (but not their tracking maneuverability).

Running guided weapons without infotech, locks should be hard to acquire but easy to keep. Then, infotech should be used to make locks easier for friendlies to acquire and harder for enemies to acquire. Easily lost locks makes both lrm's and infotech weaker.

Final point: These changes seem to be an attempt to use UI to increase teamwork. IMO UI is not enough. A cooperative mentality must be instilled, and the in-game tools for this are training missions, victory conditions, and cbill rewards which all center on team-oriented skills. And perhaps simplifying matches by reducing match size.

Feel free to post more on how to tweak the UI to address the direction PGI was going for.

Edited by AeusDeif, 22 June 2016 - 01:41 AM.

[Fireeagle]

Well i would suggest:

Assign the new map to a Screen in the Cockpit and give back original hud map!

[RoughR2]

I prefer a simpler solution. Just give us the old map back.

[Hannibal Chow]

Solution -loose pgi and Russ and give the game back ti FASA.

[AeusDeif]

Less salt plz. PGI is our best shot at seeing progress in this niche of the gaming world.

I will say I am mostly satisfied with PGI's hotfixed map. However it is still zoomed out, and I'd like better data for the upcoming infotech than a single minimap.

A popup map with an icon for the location of an alert, with a little bit of time for you to spin your mech and see the arrow on that popup so you know you're facing the alert (and can also see it on compass) seems like a reasonable middle ground.